Unveiling, Plaque Presentation & Reception
SPOTA MOSAIC & PLACES THAT MATTER
Saturday November 3
3:30pm – 4pm Unveiling & Plaque Presentation
Walter and Mary Lee Chan House, sidewalk 658 Keefer
4pm -5pm Reception
Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer
Urban renewal – the City’s vision circa 1958 – was a major and drastic overhaul of what the city would be. One of the major thrusts of this plan was to put a freeway through the city that would destroy the neighbourhood in Vancouver’s East End (later known as Strathcona).
In 1968 after close to a decade of opposing the changes, the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association (SPOTA) was formalized and the neighbourhood had a voice. It was heard both locally and nationally, and a movement was born that resulted in a new way of thinking in respect to urban “social” planning.
The SPOTA Mosaic pays tribute to the founding members and supporters of SPOTA. The concept of a permanent legacy to honour those who fought to stop the freeway was originally conceived during the Downtown Eastside Public Realm Arts Plan process (Richard Evans, Terry Hunter, Carmen Rosen). This mosaic and location was conceived and developed by long-time Strathcona resident Esther Rausenberg, designed by Richard Tetrault, and created by Richard Tetrault and Jerry Whitehead. The project is an initiative of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver – Creative Pathways project, with support from the City of Vancouver Great Beginnings Program.
Also being placed is a Vancouver Heritage Foundation Places That Matter plaque to recognize the home of Walter and Mary Chan, community members who led the fight against the freeway. For more information about the plaque project:http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org
Reception to follow at 4pm at the Strathcona Community Centre. Free

This event was on Day 11 of the 12 Days of the Heart of the City Festival. Please check the website for more events!

The Festival is thrilled to partner with the DTES’s AHA Media to provide social media coverage (video/photos/blog) of the Heart of the City Festival. AHA Media gives voice to our local community and provides services for individuals and organizations to share their news and special events on a broader scale through social media. Founded in 2008 by local artists April Smith, Hendrik Beune, and Al Tkatch, AHA Media previously collaborated with Fearless City Media and has an ongoing working relationship with W2Community Media Arts and various other organizations and individuals in the DTES community. The members of AHA Media describe themselves as “definitely not mainstream media”. Based in Vancouver’s DTES, their style is described as non-invasive and unassuming.

Say Hello to AHA Media as they visit the Festival events. They will be happy to chat with you. Stay connected to the festival with AHA’s links – see photos/videos of the festival events you attended; take in a festival event you missed; or follow one festival event while you are attending another!